"Exactly."
He closed his eyes.
Then he laughed.
"Mike."
"What?"
"Congratulations."
"For what?"
"You just watched an HOA destroy itself."
The Federal Government Arrives
The next morning, men arrived at my fence.
Three contractors.
One chainsaw.
Patty stood behind them.
"Cut it down!"
One contractor started cutting.
I ran outside.
"Stop!"
The man froze.
I showed him the property survey.
He looked at Patty.
Then at me.
Then at Atlas.
"No."
Patty screamed.
"You're being paid!"
"I'm not going to jail for you."
He shut off the chainsaw.
Patty turned toward me.
"I'll come back with a bulldozer."
"Patty."
She stopped.
"Check your email."
She pulled out her phone.
Her face changed.
"What is this?"
I smiled.
"That's the Department of Justice."
Her hand began to shake.
"They're investigating the HOA."
She stared at me.
"You did this?"
"No."
I pointed toward the documents in her hand.
"You did."
Monday morning, black SUVs arrived.
Federal agents stepped out.
A woman approached me.
"Mr. Cole?"
"Yes."